upper bound

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. an element greater than or equal to all the elements in a given set: 3 and 4 are upper bounds of the set consisting of 1, 2, and 3.

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upper bound Scientific  

1. A number that is greater than or equal to every number in a given set.

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Example Sentences

This was a fairly arbitrary and negotiated benchmark, roughly determined by the upper bound of temperatures scientists think the Earth has ever occupied since humans first evolved millions of years ago.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2025

They determined a hypothetical upper bound for Category 5 hurricanes by looking at the expanding range of wind speeds between the lower-category storms.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 2024

Japan's yield cap has evolved into a reference rate, with the Bank of Japan redefining its 1% limit on 10-year government bond yields as an "upper bound" rather than a rigid target.

From Reuters • Oct. 31, 2023

Hollender says that research has shown there’s a limit to how big cells can grow, so there must be an upper bound on how big pumpkins can get in the future.

From Scientific American • Oct. 28, 2022

Godwin's Law thus practically guarantees the existence of an upper bound on thread length in those groups.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.